Scottish Championships
2006
More photos to come
The Story of Stirling
Starring
Main characters - The Accommodation Organiser
The Halkirk TOW W.A.G.S.
The
"tag team"
The squad
Introduction - The Scottish Amateur Tug of War Championships were held at Stirling Games on Sunday 9th July with the weigh in held on Saturday 8th July. Halkirk TOW headed down hoping to retain the 680kg title they had won in 2005.
The Accommodation - With a possible weigh in on Saturday night, the squad plus partners headed south to Stirling to get settled in the travel lodge before being weighed and then off for a bite to eat. As with any trip away, the accommodation is paramount. Always best left to an older more responsible adult. Just to ensure there are no slip-ups. A young whipper snapper is more likely to rush ahead, book the rooms, not check the date and lo and behold you arrive at the hotel and no rooms are booked for the right date. But alas, even with a more mature man in charge, mistakes can still be made. However perhaps a trip to America with clocks going forward and back was the reason we were booked for Sunday night rather than Saturday night? Or maybe some people are just jinxed whilst trying to get into rooms? But never mind we got a bed in Perth and we all settled down after a large meal in the Hungry Horse to watch television in our rooms. All of us who could work the remote anyway!
The Preparations - Obviously before any major sporting events, everyone likes a good nights sleep and every coach always tells his troops that no funny business should happen. Seems it fell on deaf ears in Perth! One puller was unceremoniously chucked out of his room and was left to contemplate a night of tag. He certainly did not expect to be kept awake by bible bashing or any other bashing for that matter. On of the major shocks was that no one got lost this time, a first for a Halkirk TOW trip away.
The W.A.G.S - Yet again our loyal supporters, never cease to amaze the team with their support. One even went to the length of buying a Gazebo while another was so excited she wouldn't let the TOW top out of her sight and took it to the toilet with her, unfortunately just before the first pull! Another couple felt it best to eat all the way through the day to relax while another became slightly agitated that her partner continued to leave her and speak to a lady at the side of the ring. One of the WAGS decided she'd rather go shopping in Stirling for a sewing kit!
The Pulling -
640kg category Coach - Michael Macgregor
Team - Andrew Swanson, Graham Gunn, John Murray, Bryan Sinclair, Bruce Swanson Jnr, Bruce Swanson Snr, Johnnie Campbell & Willie Budge.
Halkirk 2-0 East Kilbride Halkirk 2-0 Cornhill
Halkirk 2-0 Strichen Halkirk 2-0 Turriff
Semi - final - Halkirk 2-0 Strichen
Final - Halkirk 2-0 Cornhill
Scottish Champions 2006 - Halkirk
680 kg category Coach - Bruce Swanson Snr
Team - Andrew Swanson, Graham Gunn, John Murray, Bruce Swanson Jnr, Johnnie Campbell, Willie Budge, Danny Budge & Michael Macgregor.
Halkirk 2-0 East Kilbride Halkirk 2-0 Cornhill
Halkirk 2-0 Strichen
Semi - final - Halkirk 2-0 Strichen
Final - Halkirk 2-1 Cornhill
Scottish Champions 2006 - Halkirk
720kg category Coach - Andrew Swanson
Team - Graham Gunn, , John Murray, Bryan Sinclair, (Andrew Swanson), Bruce Swanson Snr, Johnnie Campbell, Willie Budge, Danny Budge and Michael Macgregor.
Halkirk 1-1 East Kilbride Halkirk 1-1 Cornhill
Halkirk 2-0 Strichen Halkirk 2-0 Kinneff
Semi - final - Halkirk 2-0 Strichen
Final - Halkirk 1-2 Cornhill
Silver Medallists - Halkirk
Debating -The lads even had time between pulls to have a debating session. Contrary to popular belief, the debate was not about TOW tactics but was in fact based on the virtues of pulling with extremely long socks, the use of strong wearing shorts and women's garments. The debate was finished off with a bit of happy slapping!
The long Road Home - After any competition comes the long road home. After stopping to feed the masses in the Hungry Horse, some of the team were more in a hurry to get home than others but perhaps the least said about that the better. I have nothing further me lord....
Conclusion
A great day in the history of Halkirk TOW but hopefully the sponsor will provide a calendar for every squad member for 2007.
Once again the W.A.G.S. and the
"tag" team deserve great credit for their support throughout the weekend.
Possible Halkirk TOW Stirling CD -
Faster than the Speed of Light
First Cut is the Deepest
Paradise by the "Headboard" Light
Insomnia
These "socks" are made for "pulling"
Dedicated Follower of Fashion
More photos to come